More than 100 years ago, One Mission Society missionaries discipled,
trained, and sent out two young Korean students, Kim Sang-jun and Jung Bin,
from the OMS-established Tokyo Bible Institute in Japan back to Korea to share
the Gospel with the Korean people.

From the beginning, OMS has been intentional about training
the sons and daughters of a nation to reach their own people. This dedication has
helped in the phenomenal growth of the OMS-founded Korea Evangelical Holiness
Church (KEHC), which today has more than 3,000 churches and nearly 1 million
members!

Before
the division of North and South Korea, there were also about 3,000 churches in
the north, with 132 of them being OMS related. And then the Korean War came,
and those churches were laid waste while most Christians fled south to safety. Those
that didn’t were most likely martyred.

Today,
evangelism in North Korea (NK) is impossible. For the last 16 years, Open
Door’s World Watch List has ranked it number one for persecuted Christians. Over
70,000 Christians live in prison camps as a result of their faith, suffering
forced labor, starvation, and sexual abuse.

More
than 20 million North Koreans live in darkness, having NEVER heard the Gospel.

North Korea is indeed a dark place, but OMS, along
with our South Korea partners, is piercing the darkness of NK with the light of
Christ. Here’s how:

1. We are equipping North Korean defectors.

Koreans have been a divided people for decades, but a
gradual reunification process is taking place through the arrival of North
Korean defectors in

South Korea. These refugees face numerous obstacles to
integration into South Korean society, but they also provide valuable insight
into the issues Koreans will face after reunification.

Our ministry partner, Sarangnaru, reaches out to North Korean refugees
and helps them integrate into South Korean society by providing group homes for
teens and young adults and after-school tutoring for elementary children and
their parents, among other ministries. In this way, North Korean defectors and
their families are evangelized, discipled, and prepared to make a valuable
contribution to reunification.

2.We are equipping North Korean transients.

Risking their lives for a better future, an estimated 100,000 to 300,000
have crossed the border into neighboring nations. With discretion and care, we
are evangelizing, discipling, and training North Koreans who travel to nearby
nations to return to share the Gospel within their family groups and, when
feasible, help plant underground house churches.

This holiday season, we are taking the light of Jesus into the darkest place
in the world, North Korea. Will you join us in this initiative?

A small gift of $34 will evangelize, train, and disciple one North
Korean to reach his or her nation for Christ.

Most
of us have never had to flee starvation and oppression in our homeland. Currently,
South Korea hosts about 30,000 defectors who have escaped North Korea in the
last 20 years or so since the famine of the 1990s. Most of them had never heard
of Christ while in North Korea, but during the process of passing through China
and other countries, many have now heard the Gospel. Some have become
Christians and even have been trained as pastors to reach out to their own
people, as well as to those around the world.

Adventures
in English for a United Korea (AIE4UK) started with a vision to help pastors
and young people who came from North Korea to be able to communicate with the church
around the world. It also helps prepare people domestically and internationally
for unification, raises up workers who can fill the basic need for English
education, and helps Christians from North Korea share their testimonies and
the Gospel in English to bring spiritual awakening and revival to the Western,
English-speaking church.

From July 17 - 19, 2017, we held our fourth year of camp at Seoul Theological
University with the theme “A New Thing” (Isaiah 43:18-19). Susan Truitt, OMS
missionary and English professor at Seoul Theological University, directed the
camp, and a team of eight native English speakers sent out from OMS served as
teachers.

This
year, 10 North Korean defectors participated in AIE4UK, so they were matched one
on one with the native English speakers from the United States. About half of
them were pastors serving in ministry in South Korea, and the other half were
young people preparing for their future. One activity they did together was
going to the Yanghwajin Foreign Missionary Cemetery to learn about some of the
early missionaries who came to Korea over 100 years ago and be challenged by
their lives of obedience and service. In the evenings we heard the testimonies
of some of those who had come from North Korea. It was a tearful time to hear
of how God has been faithful through all of the terrible suffering they had
gone through.

We believe that God has sent North Korean defectors to South Korea not only for
the unification of the Korean people but also so that through their living
testimonies of how God has guided and preserved their lives in the midst of
danger, they can be used as instruments to awaken Western, English-speaking
churches. We believe that if Christian North Korean defectors can share their
testimonies and the power of the Gospel in English without having to depend on
interpretation, God will use them in valuable ways.

For over 20 years, One Mission Society (OMS) in Korea has held Adventures in
English camps every summer with volunteer native English speakers. These
volunteers, devoted to God’s kingdom, raise their own money to participate.
Through AIE4UK, jointly sponsored by OMS Korea, the Prayer Network for North
Korea and the Nations (PN4N), and Sarangnaru, we hope that North Korean
defectors may be raised up in a wonderful way to serve as missionaries in cooperation
with OMS. The next AIE4UK is being planned for August 8-10, 2018.

Since
the mid-1990s, more than 1 million North Koreans have died of starvation from
famine and economic collapse in North Korea. Because of this, many desperately
attempt to cross the border into South Korea every year. In fact, each year, more
than 1,000 people enter South Korea. As of March 2017, 8,848 men and 21,642
women (more than 70%) defectors live in South Korea. Many of these women were
trafficked in China, where they had children that they brought with them to
South Korea.

Although
the number of North Korean defectors is only about .1 percent of the North
Korean population, each life is valued. We believe that interacting with those
from the north gives South Koreans a foretaste of what an integrated society after
unification will be like. We also see that when those who defect adjust
successfully to South Korean culture, they become indirect missionaries to
family and friends in the north.

North
Korean defectors now enjoy better economic stability and are enthusiastic about
education opportunities for their children to live a better life. But unfortunately,
the drop-out rate for North Korean defectors is 1.4 percent in elementary
school, 8.8 percent in middle school, and 14.4 percent in high school, over 10
times that of South Korean students! For most children and teens from North
Korea, the hardest part of the school is adjusting to using English.

Many
North Korean defectors experience discrimination and inhospitality, so they are
tempted into crimes such as sex trafficking, and some even return to North
Korea. The reason the over 30,000 North Korean defectors are not adjusting well
to South Korean society and have degenerated into failures, lawbreakers, and
vulnerability is that they have not been embraced with love and acceptance.

For
this reason, Sarangnaru, a ministry partner of One
Mission Society, run a group
home and after-school classes, which show compassion and can be effective tools
to maintain continuing relationships with North Korean defectors for missions. The
ultimate goal of this ministry is to share Christ and build disciples for Christ.

Resources
are needed to prepare for the coming unification and the evangelization of
North Koreans.

Did you know that before the division of
North and South Korea, there were about 3,000 churches in North Korea, with 132
of those being Korea Evangelical Holiness Churches (KEHC), started by Koreans
trained by OMS missionaries? But during the Korean War, the churches in the
north were laid waste, and the majority of the Christians fled to the south.

Dozens of North Korean pastors stayed to watch
over their churches while they sent their families to flee south. Many of them were captured
and suffered greatly, finally dying a martyr’s death. In the following decades
of continual persecution by the North Korean government, the churches and
Christians in North Korea disappeared altogether.

One pastor, who in spite of his sadness
over losing his father to the communists, has devoted his life to restoring the
church in North Korea. For several decades, he has embraced his enemies, the
North Korean people, with the love of Christ. Because of the mission of
unification in the Gospel, although he is in his 80s, he is still working hard
to restore the North Korean church.

Here is a passionately written except from
a letter he wrote to his father, who was abducted by the North Korean government:

“What
has happened to Shinuiju Dongbu Church now . . . father! Restoring that fallen
church is my fervent hope and prayer. Someday a church will stand tall again in
that place. Father, in that church where you shared the Gospel and pastored, I
see a vision of your descendants sharing the Gospel.”

This pastor has been doing the dangerous
ministry of setting up a shelter for North Koreans, sharing the Gospel with those
traveling overseas, and training them to go back to North Korea. Because South
Koreans cannot go into North Korea to share the Gospel, he has also been
training ethnic Korean Chinese nationals and Mongolians who can enter North
Korea.

There are North Korean evangelists who, in
obedience to God’s Word, are risking death to accept Jesus while overseas and
then return to North Korea. They are keeping the faith in the midst of persecution
and danger, building the underground church and sharing the Gospel.

Among the one billion people that OMS is
pursuing to share the Good News of Jesus with, there are 25 million North
Koreans who have never heard the Gospel. They are waiting for someone to share with
them. OMS has focused on training national evangelists in Korea since the start
of the Korea Evangelical Holiness Church (KEHC) over 110 years ago. The North
Koreans that we have discipled will rebuild the fallen North Korean church and
bring salvation to the souls dying without knowing Jesus Christ. The North
Korean underground Christians who have kept their faith through suffering will
fulfill the task of being witnesses of the light of Jesus Christ all over the
world. We ask for your prayers and support as this ministry is dangerous and
difficult.

Sixty-seven long
years have passed since the Korean War. As relations between North and South
Korea grow more difficult and North Korea’s nuclear threats increase, prayer is
urgently needed above all at this time. We believe that in the midst of all
this, God has a wonderful plan for the lost people of North Korea. Here is an overview of a few of the ministries you can support:

1. Ministries for North Korean refugees~Shelter ministries for North Korean refugees are taking place near the
border of North Korea. One missionary was martyred for this ministry, but his
wife is continuing this ministry. Prayers are needed for safety and fruit above
all.

2. Ministry of food aid for North Korean children~A unique ministry of food aid for children is taking place through the
cooperation of various organizations. As we hear in the news, many North Korean
children are suffering from hunger, so prayer is needed for funds for this
humanitarian food distribution for children.

3. Project to rebuild Korea Evangelical Holiness
(KEHC) churches in North Korea~Before the Korean
War, there were 134 KEHC churches in North Korea. So, local South Korean
churches are being matched with them to raise resources to rebuild these 134
churches when unification comes. Prayers are needed for the fundraising strategy
for this project.

4. Ministries for North Korean defectors~Prayers are needed
for more denominational support and interest in the youth and educational
ministries for North Korean defectors being carried out through the cooperation
of Sarangnaru and One Mission Society.

5. North Korea Missions Committee~Through the
activities of the North Korea Missions Committee, various forums and seminars
are being held for North Korea and unification missions, as well as prayer
networks, financial support, and participation in North Korea missions are
being mobilized. Prayer is needed for more expert workers to participate in
this ministry.

A
few years ago, mission researchers produced a map contrasting well-lit areas of
the world with dark ones. Based on the best data available at the time,
dots of light were imposed on an otherwise dark map of the world. Each
pinpoint of light represented a certain number of evangelical followers of
Jesus. The result was a compelling portrayal of the areas of the world
where there is relatively rich access to the Gospel in comparison to the areas
where access is critically low.

South
Korea has a heavier concentration of light than any other nation. In
contrast, North Korea is strikingly dark. Knowing the Lord of the harvest
does not desire for any to perish (2 Peter 3:9), what can we do to help more people
in, and from, North Korea have access to the light of Christ?

Along
with many other partners, One Mission Society is deeply concerned for the
people of North Korea. Christ loves them and died so that they could have
life. Yet, so few of them have ever had the opportunity to hear and understand
the truth of Christ. By God’s grace and with his help, OMS is seeking ways
to make the Gospel available to North Koreans. May the walls keeping it
from them come down. And when they do, may God’s people be ready to
blanket this dark nation with light!

~Bob Fetherlin, President, One Mission Society

Editor’s note: This is the first in a
six-part series on our outreach to North Koreans. Stay tuned for stories of
about changed lives and how God is piercing the darkness. If you’d like to
donate to this ministry effort, give here.

Although
we don’t hear much about this in the news, especially in light of all the many
other disasters around the world, South Asia has experienced unprecedented
flooding in the past few months.

Heavy
rains raised the water levels of 18
rivers, submerging most of the 20
districts in the north. More than 3.3 million people are homeless in a nation already suffering. The
floods claimed the lives of more than
1,200 people, and many more are still missing. Millions of lives are
still in danger, as well as their homes, agricultural production, and
livestock. These recent floods break all of the previous records, which says a
lot.

Most
victims lost all their belongings and now are struggling with a lack of food
and drinking water, shelter, and medications. Hundreds of thousands remain
homeless and hungry.

The water situation is also
grave. Out of desperation, many people are being poisoned by drinking
contaminated well water, which has infiltrated the wells.

Additionally,
many roads and railways under water, making transportation and delivering
supplies difficult to impossible.

Another
tragic situation in this already overcrowded nation involves the migration of
the Rohingya people fleeing from Myanmar due to religious persecution.

Our
partners in South Asia, along with our Mercy, Inc, ministry, visited several
Rohingya refugee camps last week. Cindy described the situation as “one of the
most heartbreaking places I have ever witnessed!” Reports estimate that more
than 68 percent of the women and young girls have been raped, and thousands
upon thousands have been brutally murdered!!

They’re living
in tarp cities with mud floors. The Rohingya people are suffering
with much sickness. Our partners are providing clean water and rice, along with
some medical help, but so much more help is needed! Please pray what you can do
for these people!

Our
partners in South Asia have the capacity to do more for the victims with your
help. Would you consider donating to our relief fund to help provide
life-saving supplies?

The
Cuban people now face one of the saddest moments in the past few years.

On
September 8, the northern coast of Cuba was slammed by Hurricane Irma. It made landfall, with winds
of nearly 160 miles per hour … the first Category 5 hurricane to hit the
country since 1937.

But
in the midst of this crisis, there is hope.

Norberto,
the president of our partner denomination, shares what he has seen firsthand on
this island nation.

In
the midst of the destruction, we want to learn from the example of Jesus … we
want to love those who need our love. For this reason, we are helping those who
are suffering. We know that God can turn this crisis into opportunities and the
problems into blessings.

To
date, we have started 10 community kitchens to feed the needy. The churches are
serving the communities as a light in the darkness. Volunteers are seeing new ways
to serve the people and testify of God’s love at the same time.

While
Irma did much damage, the Cuban church stands together today to rebuild the
fallen walls and to give witness to the victory of the king of kings.

"Blessed
to Bless." That’s what I saw when I entered one church that had been badly
affected by the storm. I never thought that I would see that phrase on a church
wall that was almost destroyed. The pastor’s family lost nearly all of their belongings
and had no food to eat. They went two nights without sleeping. Yet, the phrase echoed
in my mind: "Blessed to Bless ..."

The
pastor of this church and his family knew that Irma was going to change their lives, but they
never imagined that the change was going to be for good.

Today
and every day, the church feeds 180 people, and their contacts continue to grow.
Many are asking, “Why do you do it?” The pastor responds, “Because God loves
me, and I want you to know that he loves you too.” God has blessed this family,
and they want to bless the people that live there.

The
people are beginning to feel encouragement and hope. You can hear laughter and
see happy faces while the church serves them with love.

Another
story that fills me with joy happened when I visited a church in which most of
the building was destroyed, but part of a wall that remained said, “Instruments
of Change 2 Timothy 2: 21.” The pastor had just started a series on discipleship
to teach them that sanctification is God's instrument to achieve good things
from the hearts of the people. After the ravages of Irma, the church is beginning
to understand firsthand the meaning of the words: "agents of change."

Today, members of this church cook for more than 200 people daily. Most of the church members volunteer with
the community kitchen, and they are instruments for change in the hearts of the
people as they serve and love in Jesus’ name.

The
message of the Gospel becomes real when people can see what God has done among
his people. To God be the glory!